7 SEPTEMBER 1985, Page 12

One hundred years ago

An extraordinary story, originally circu- lated by a Siberian paper, has obtained currency in England about a colony of English gold-diggers who are working gold-mines on Chinese territory south of the Amour. The Siberian paper describes these men as Australian and Californian diggers, asserts that they have set up a Republic and defied the Chinese Government, and hints that they will require to be watched by Russia, as they may disorganise Siber- ian society. The story seems a wild one. It is quite possible that English or American explorers have found gold on the Amour, but no large number of Englishmen can be concerned in the enterprise. England would have heard of them in a hundred ways. They would want letters, and bitter beer, and Sun- day services, and protection from the Foreign Office, and every other British luxury, and would be remitting the proceeds of their diggings.

Spectator, 5 September 1885